Veteran photojournalist abducted in Kaduna

Suspected bandits have abducted a veteran photojournalist, Malam Umar Usman Iyale, in Danhonu II community, Millennium City, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday, around 9 pm.  Umar was a retired staff member of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Kaduna Station, and formerly of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Kaduna.  Sources said the kidnappers carried out the operation quietly but in a coordinated manner, gaining access to the compound at a time when some members of the journalists family were yet to return home.  It was gathered that the hoodlums demanded money from the victim, and when he could not provide, they forcefully abducted him to an unknown destination.  Residents have expressed concern over the safety of Malam Umar, who was described as elderly and battling health challenges “He is not someone who can withstand hardship for long. Everyone here is worried, a resident said.  Residents called for more decisive and sustained security action to halt the activities of criminal gangs, despite ongoing efforts under the Kaduna Peace Model, which they said must be strengthened to address pockets of kidnapping. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the incident, saying it has launched an investigation aimed at rescuing the victim unhurt. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, had immediately deployed a team of operatives to track down the abductors and secure the safe release of Malam Umar. The post Veteran photojournalist abducted in Kaduna appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.